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Attention: Health and safety media

Campaigners step up pressure on passive smoking

Pressure on the Government to regulate smoking in the workplace will be stepped up in April when the TUC, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) hold a major campaign conference, 'Don’t Choke on the Smoke'.

The three organisations will be calling on the government to accept the long-delayed Health and Safety Commission’s Approved Code of Practice, or ACoP, on passive smoking. They will reveal opinion poll results and evidence of the levels of illness caused by environmental tobacco smoke. Similar research has recently led Ireland to announce a ban on smoking at work, following similar bans in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and the USA.

TUC General Secretary Elect Brendan Barber said:

'Britain is falling behind on smoking at work. We will soon have the most confusing laws, the smokiest workplaces, and the most passive smoking diseases. The government could stop this relentless slide to last place in the clean air stakes by accepting the code of practice drawn up by its own advisers.'

Marsha Williams of the anti-tobacco campaigning group ASH said:

'There is now broad societal consensus that smoking should be restricted at work. Simply put, passive smoke is a killer and if Ministers do not move quickly to effectively ban smoking in all workplaces the reality is that workers will continue to die.'

Mike Garton, Policy Officer of the CIEH said:

'It is vital that that this code of practice is immediately agreed by the government, so that enforcement officers can take action to make the working environment a healthier place'

The conference takes place on Wednesday, 9 April from 10am to 4:30pm at Congress House, the TUC headquarters in London WC1. Registration is £30 for members of ASH, the CIEH and the TUC, £40 for public and voluntary sector organisations and £50 for others. Cheques should be payable to ASH and sent to 102 Clifton Street, London EC2A 4HW.

Chaired by former Commissioner Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen, the conference will hear from US anti-smoking campaigner James Repace and former BMA chairman Sir Alexander Macara, asthma campaigner Donna Covey, TUC deputy general secretary Frances O’Grady and parliamentarians Barry Sheerman MP and Lord Faulkner. The conference is sponsored by Thompsons solicitors.

Notes to Editors:

Journalists wishing to attend the conference should apply to the TUC press office for credentials.

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 8am-10pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Liz Chinchen, TUC press office, on 020 7467 1248 or 07699 744115 (pager) or email lchinchen@tuc.org.uk

Other enquiries: Marsha Williams, ASH on 020 7739 5902 or email marsha.williams@ash.org.uk

Press release (500 words) issued 13 Feb 2003